JAMES Walton scored two tries in vain as Stratford-upon-Avon RFC suffered a narrow 32-27 defeat against Old Halesonians.
Walton touched down either side of the break while Nathan Geekie also crossed for the home side at Pearcecroft.
The result means Stratford sit 10th in the Regional 2 Midlands West table.
Old Halesonians made a strong start with Stratford’s Angus Wightman sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle following a spell of pressure on the home line.
The visitors scored the game’s first try from the resulting penalty and crossed again soon after with another overlap as Old Halesonians made the most of the extra man.
And Old Halesonians dotted down their third try in the corner before Wightman returned to the pitch as the visitors took a commanding 17-point lead.
Stratford responded when Walton forced his way over the line from a driving maul as Dan Whitby added the extras.
And Old Halesonians then had a player sent to the sin-bin with Stratford unable to strike again before the break.
The visitors stretched their lead with a penalty early in the second half before Geekie touched down for the home side from Ben Cole’s inside pass and Whitby converted.
However, Cole then received a yellow card after Stratford initially charged down an Old Halesonians clearing kick.
Stratford forced a couple of penalties soon after as Whitby twice kicked the ball through the posts to bring the scores level.
The visitors reclaimed the lead with a try from close range following a lineout.
However, the home side levelled the game up again when Walton received Jake Lowe’s pass and dotted down his second try of the game as Whitby added the extras.
Stratford’s Dan Earp received the home side’s third yellow card of the game for a high tackle and Old Halesonians crossed with the final play of the game to take the points.
Stratford are next in action against Whitchurch on Saturday, November 9 at Pearcecroft.
